Call for Submissions: Streets as Archives (Second Edition)

Unpublished Africa invites photographers across the continent to submit work for our upcoming exhibition, Streets as Archives.

African cities are alive with stories. Every building, street corner, and piece of architecture carries memory: of resilience, displacement, aspiration, and quiet survival. From colonial relics to improvised structures, from skylines of ambition to the familiar rhythms of neighborhood streets, our cities are archives in themselves.

Through Streets as Archives, we want to not only see your cities, but reframe street photography as more than just pictures. We are looking for work that reflects how architecture and the built environment document our histories, shape our present, and suggest our futures.

Who can apply?

• African Photographers over the age of 18.

• Both emerging and established practitioners are welcome.

• Work can be documentary or experimental, but it must engage with architecture, buildings, or the built environment through a street photography lens.

What we’re looking for:

• Strong photographic series (3–5 images) that center your city as an archive of memory and change.

• Work that highlights overlooked perspectives and voices.

• Projects that are rooted in place and context rather than reproducing familiar “touristic” views of African cities.

• This is a black and white photography exhibition. 

How to apply:

• Submit up to 5 images (JPEG, max 5MB each).

• Include a short artist statement (200–300 words) explaining the story behind your work.

• Provide a short bio (100 words max).
  
  Submission Link:
  https://airtable.com/appf0GGiOOYqqSMzO/shrcJPoYtpHmIEhDH
  
  Deadline: 7 August 2026
  
  
  When submitting your work, please ensure that your captions include the following details: "Artist Name, Nationality, Title, Year"
  

  File Format and Technical Requirements

  • File type: JPEG (.jpg)

  • Minimum resolution: 3000 pixels on the longest side

  • Maximum file size: 5MB per image

  • File naming format:
    Firstname_Lastname_City_Year_ImageNumber
    Example: Jane_Doe_Lusaka_2025_01.jpg

  Please ensure:

  • No watermarks

  • No borders

  • No graphic overlays

  Basic colour correction and light editing are acceptable. Avoid heavy manipulation that alters the original scene.

  Ethical Guidelines

  The publication prioritises responsible and respectful storytelling.

  • We do not publish images of children.

  • We do not publish images that depict poverty in an exploitative or sensational manner.

  • We encourage photographers to present work that reflects thoughtful and balanced representations of place and community.

  • Submissions should avoid imagery that reinforces harmful or reductive stereotypes about countries or communities.

  If a person is clearly identifiable in the photograph, photographers may be asked to provide a model release confirming consent to publish.

  Captions and Context

  Each image must include a short caption.

  Captions may:

  • Provide clear context about the moment photographed.

  • (or) Share a researched observation about the place or situation.

  • (or) Briefly explain why the scene stood out during the photo walk.

  Captions help readers understand the image beyond the visual moment.

  Image Rights and Use

  By submitting, photographers confirm that:

  • They own the rights to the images submitted.

  • They grant Unpublished Africa permission to reproduce the selected images in the publication and in related communications promoting the project.

  All selected photographers will be credited in the publication.

  Submission Link:
  https://airtable.com/appf0GGiOOYqqSMzO/shrcJPoYtpHmIEhDH
  
  Deadline: 01 August 2026

About Unpublished Africa

Unpublished Africa is a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of African visual storytellers by creating entry points into sustainable creative careers. We believe in the power of photography and visual storytelling to document, question, and reimagine the world around us, while uncovering stories that are often overlooked. Through workshops, exhibitions, publications, and photo walks, we create spaces for creatives to grow their practice, build networks, and access opportunities that move their work forward. At our core is the belief that talent exists everywhere, but access does not; which is why we bridge gaps in skills, resources, and networks to support emerging talent. Many of our participants have exhibited with us for the first time and gone on to achieve significant milestones, affirming the importance of early opportunities. Unpublished Africa is a community of curiosity, collaboration, and courage, publishing the stories that have not yet been told and empowering the voices shaping Africa’s creative future.